The Vatican Information Service is a news service, founded in the Holy See Press Office, that provides information about the Magisterium and the pastoral activities of the Holy Father and the Roman Curia...[+]

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Friday, October 30, 2015

Vatican City, 30 October 2015 (VIS) –
This morning five hundred pilgrims from El Salvador, in Rome to give
thanks for the beatification of the bishop Oscar Arnulfo Romero, met
with the Holy Father in the Paul VI Hall. The Pope defined the
Salvadoran bishop martyr as a “good pastor, full of love for God
and close to his brothers who, living the dynamism of the Beatitudes,
gave his life in a violent way while celebrating the Eucharist, the
supreme sacrifice of love, sealing with his own blood the Gospel that
he announced”.

“From the very beginning of the life
of the Church, Christians have always believed that the blood of
martyrs is a seed for Christians, as Tertullian said. Today too, in a
dramatic way, the blood of a great number of Christian martyrs
continues to be shed on the field of the world, with the certain hope
that will bear fruit in a rich harvest of holiness, justice,
reconciliation and love of God. But we must remember that one is not
born a martyr. Archbishop Romero remarked, 'We must be willing to die
for our faith, even if the Lord does not grant us this honour. ...
Giving life does not only mean being assassinated; giving life,
having the spirit of martyrdom, means offering it in silence, in
prayer, in the honest fulfilment of one's duty; in this silence of
everyday life, giving life a little at a time'”.

“Indeed, the martyr is not someone
relegated to the past, a beautiful image that adorns our churches and
which we recall with a certain nostalgia. No, the martyr is a
brother, a sister, who continues to accompany us in the communion of
saints and who, united with Christ, does not ignore our earthly
pilgrimage, our sufferings, our anxieties. In the recent history of
this beloved country, the witness of Msgr. Romero has joined that of
the other brothers and sisters … who are a treasure and
well-founded hope for the Church and for Salvadoran society. The
impact of his commitment can still be felt in our times”.

Just a few weeks before the beginning
of the extraordinary Jubilee of Mercy, the example of Msgr. Romero
constitutes, for his beloved nation, a “stimulus to a renewed
proclamation of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, to announce it in a way
that all people can understand, so that the merciful love of the
Divine Saviour enters the heart and the history of this good people.
The holy people of God in pilgrimage in El Salvador have a series of
difficult tasks ahead of them, which require, as in the rest of the
world, an evangelising announcement that allows witness, in the
communion of Christ's one Church, of authentic Christian life”.

“On this occasion, I make my own the
sentiments of the Blessed Msgr. Romero, who with the well-founded
hope longed to see the happy time when the terrible suffering of many
of our brothers, due to hate, violence and injustice, would
disappear. May the Lord, with a shower of mercy and goodness and a
torrent of grace convert all hearts, and may the beautiful homeland
He has given you, that bears the name of the Divine Saviour, be
transform into a country where all are redeemed and all are brothers,
without differences, since we are all one in Christ our Lord”.

The Holy Father concluded with some
unscripted remarks. “I wish to add something we are forgetting”,
he said. “The martyrdom of Msgr. Romero was not fulfilled at the
moment of his death – it was a martyrdom of witness, of prior
suffering and prior persecution, up to his death. But even
afterwards, following his death – I was a young priest and a
witness to this – he was defamed, slandered, his memory despoiled,
and his martyrdom continued also for his brethren in the priesthood
and in the episcopate. This is not hearsay, but rather things I have
heard. Or perhaps it is best to see it thus: a man who continues to
be a martyr. After having given his life, he continues to give it by
allowing himself to be assailed by all this misunderstanding and
slander. This gives me strength. Only God knows the stories of those
people who have given their lives, who have died, and continue to be
stoned with the hardest stone that exists in the world: language”.

Vatican City, 30 October 2015 (VIS) –
Pope Francis has sent a message to the Santa Marta Group, an
initiative launched by the Holy Father in the battle against human
trafficking, involving the security forces of various countries,
episcopates, social organisations and representatives of various
religious confessions. The group is currently gathered at the San
Lorenzo del Escorial in Spain, a meeting inaugurated this Friday by
Queen Sofia and attended by cardinals, bishops, social activists and
around fifty heads of police from around the world.

In the short time of its existence,
writes Francis, this worthy group has made significant achievements
and is called upon to play a decisive role in the eradication of
human trafficking and modern slavery. He recalls that during the last
year there have been important institutional changes that have
without doubt supported its activity, starting with the meeting of
mayors in Vatican City on 21 July, in which key figures signed a
declaration expressing their commitment to eliminating the new forms
of slavery that constitute a crime against humanity.

He also mentions the recent approval of
the Agenda 2030, with the new United Nations Sustainable Development
Goals, which include the adoption of immediate and effective means
for eradicating forced labour, putting an end to modern forms of
slavery and human trafficking and ensuring the prohibition and
elimination of the worst forms of child labour, including the
recruitment and deployment of child soldiers, with a view to putting
an end to all forms of child labour by 2025.

The Pope also refers to his address to
the United Nations in New York on 25 September, in which he affirmed
that the world demands of government leaders “a will which is
effective, practical and constant, concrete steps and immediate
measures for preserving and improving the natural environment and
thus putting an end as quickly as possible to the phenomenon of
social and economic exclusion, with its baneful consequences. …
Such is the magnitude of these situations and their toll in innocent
lives, that we must avoid every temptation to fall into a
declarationist nominalism which would assuage our consciences”.
“Today the 193 states of the United Nations have a new moral
imperative to combat human trafficking, a true crime against
humanity. Collaboration between bishops and the civil authorities,
each in accordance with his own mission and character and with the
aim of discovering best practice for the fulfilment of this delicate
task, is a decisive step to ensuring that the will of governments
reaches the victims in a direct, immediate, constant, effective and
concrete way”.

“For my part, I pray that God
Almighty grant you the grace of carrying forward the delicate,
humanitarian and Christian mission of healing the open and painful
wounds of humanity, which are also Christ's wounds. I assure you of
all my support and my prayer, and the support and prayer of the
faithful of the Catholic Church. With God's help, and your
collaboration, the indispensable service of the Santa Marta Group
will be able to free the victims of new forms of slavery,
rehabilitate them, along with the imprisoned and the marginalised,
unmasking the traffickers and those who create this market, and
provide effective assistance to cities and nations; a service for the
common good and the promotion of human dignity, able to bring out the
best in every person and every citizen”.

Vatican City, 30 October 2015 (VIS) –
To commemorate 60 years of the Latin American Episcopal Council
(CELAM), the Pope has written a message to the president Cardinal
Ruben Salazar Gomez in which he expresses his gratitude for all the
good the Lord has gradually sown there, and that has borne fruit
through the service of God's Church in Latin America.

“I hope that CELAM, making pastoral
and missionary conversion its priority, may increasingly participate
in, support and give momentum to this evangelising movement towards
all environments and all frontiers. It is important that our
communities are a 'home and school of communion', which attract by a
surprising fraternity based on the recognition of the common father,
and help always to keep alive in the Church in Latin America the
passion for our peoples, the bearing of our sufferings and the
capacity for Christian discernment of the vicissitudes of their
recent history, to open up paths of greater equality, peace and
justice”.

He also emphasises that the upcoming
opening of the extraordinary Jubilee of Mercy “will be an event of
grace in which CELAM must provide a fundamental service of
inspiration, exchange and celebration”.

Finally, the Pope imparts his apostolic
blessing to all members of CELAM, their collaborators, and the
episcopate of Latin America and the Caribbean, placing all these
intentions under the protection of the mantle of Our Lady of
Guadalupe, patron of America, so that by her intercession “Our Lord
Jesus Christ may inspire new and holier missionary disciples in our
Churches, and more courageous builders of peace and justice in our
nations”.

Vatican City, 30 October 2015 (VIS) –
The Holy Father's universal prayer intention for November is: “That
we may be open to personal encounter and dialogue with all, even
those whose convictions differ from our own”.

His intention for evangelisation is:
“That pastors of the Church, with profound love for their flocks,
may accompany them and enliven their hope”.

Vatican City, 30 October 2015 (VIS) –
We inform our readers that there will be no Vatican Information
Service bulletin on Monday, 2 November, a holiday in the Vatican.
Service will resume on Tuesday, 3 November.

Thursday, October 29, 2015

Vatican City, 29 October 2015 (VIS) –
Today the Holy Father Francis received in audience Dalia
Grybauskaite, president of the Republic of Lithuania, who
subsequently met with Cardinal Secretary of State Pietro Parolin,
accompanied by Archbishop Paul Richard Gallagher, secretary for
Relations with States.

During the cordial discussions
appreciation was expressed for the positive contribution of the
Catholic Church to Lithuanian society. Attention then turned to a
number of themes of common interest, such as European integration,
the need for greater solidarity between nations to face various
current challenges, the reception of migrants in Europe, peace and
security at regional and international level, the conflict in
Ukraine, and the situation in the Middle East, with particular
reference to Syria and the Holy Land.

Vatican City, 29 October 2015 (VIS) –
This morning the Pope received in the Sala Clementina the
participants in the Radio Maria 6th World Congress, taking place in
the shrine of Collevallenza, Italy from 25 to 30 October and attended
by the presidents and priests who direct the 75 Radio Maria
broadcasters throughout the world and the further six who will
shortly become active. Thousands of volunteers contribute to the
running of Radio Maria, which has around 30 million listeners
worldwide.

Pope Francis began his address by
commenting that ever since its creation the aim of Radio Maria has
been to help the Church in her task of evangelising, and to do so in
its own special way, “with closeness to the concerns and problems
of the people, with words of consolation and hope, the fruit of faith
and commitment to solidarity. … The spread of Radio Maria in many
environments, very diverse in terms of culture, language and
tradition, is good news for all as it shows that, when we have the
courage to propose high profile content from a clearly Christian
position, the initiative is well-received, beyond our best
predictions, and at times by those who thereby perhaps come into
contact with the message of the Gospel for the first time”.

The Pope invited the members of Radio
Maria to continue their work, trusting in Providence that has always
enabled them to find the means to respond to their daily needs
regarding the modernisation of technologies and the development of
the radio station, which has spread rapidly and organically. “In
this respect, the challenge is to maintain your style of sobriety,
while continuing to seek suitable tools”.

The work of Radio Maria has become “a
true mission”, which must be carried out “with fidelity to the
Gospel and to the Magisterium of the Church, and listening to society
and to the people, especially the poorest and most marginalised, so
as to be a point of reference and a support to all your listeners. …
All those who listen to your radio programmes recognise you as a
broadcaster that offers ample space to prayer, demonstrating that
when one opens up to prayer, one opens the door … to the Lord. Your
model in this is Our Lady. It is therefore necessary to love Mary
with your heart to live and feel in harmony with the Church”.

The Pope concluded by urging the
directors “always to cultivate the inner garden of prayer, of
listening to the Word of God”, and to seek out “good readings, so
as to deepen your faith. In other words, always be aware that you
give something great and unique: Christian hope, which is far more
than a mere spiritual consolation, since it is based on the power of
the Resurrection, witnessed with faith and works of charity”.

Vatican City, 29 October 2015 (VIS) –
The Holy See Press Office today made public the programme of the Holy
Father's visit to Prato and Florence, Italy on 10 November for the
Fifth National Congress of the Italian Church.

The Pope will depart at 7 a.m. from the
Vatican heliport and will arrive an hour later at the municipal
sports camp in Prato. From there he will transfer to the cathedral
and will address workers from the square. At 9 a.m. he will travel by
helicopter from Prato to Florence where, after arrival at the Luigi
Ridolfi stadium, he will visit the baptistery and will meet with the
representatives of the National Congress of the Italian Church in
Piazza Santa Maria del Fiore. At midday he will pray the Angelus and
greet the sick in the Basilica della Santissima Annunziata, after
which he will lunch with the poor who attend the San Francesco
Poverino refectory. After celebrating Holy Mass in the Artemio
Franchi municipal stadium, the Holy Father will greet the authorities
and depart for Rome at 5 p.m., where he is due to arrive around 6
p.m.

Vatican City, 29 October 2015 (VIS) –
Cardinal Jean-Louis Tauran, president of the Pontifical Council for
Interreligious Dialogue, has sent a message to the participants in
the Religions for Peace European Assembly, currently gathered in
Castel Gandolfo to discuss the theme “Welcoming Each Other in
Europe: from Fear to Trust”.

The cardinal mentioned the Assembly's
concept paper, which underlines the multiple challenges of today's
Europe: fear of losing one's identity leading to radicalism and
fundamentalism, tendency to withdraw into oneself, xenophobia, rising
intolerance towards different religions and minorities and increasing
tides of forced migration due to wars, dictatorial regimes and
ecological crisis.

“How can we change fear into trust,
discrimination into respect, enmity into amity, polarisation into
solidarity, a selfish lifestyle into a selfless one, a throwaway
culture into a caring culture, and confrontation into encounter and
dialogue? The true mission of religion is peace because religion and
peace go together. No true religious leader can ignore the culture of
dehumanisation and violence or preach and support it. We all agree
that peace or violence and trust or fear come from the human heart.
Prayer, spiritual practices, and actions for justice and peace can
awaken our hearts to overcome the polarised vision of seeing our
neighbour as another separate person. As religious leaders our urgent
challenge today, is to transform distrust , suspicion, intolerance
into a new culture based on respect, mutual understanding,
non-violence, solidarity and peaceful conflict resolution. Since our
spiritual patrimony is so great, let us work together to remedy these
social and cultural ills through dialogue and cooperation”.

Wednesday, October 28, 2015

Vatican City, 28 October 2015 (VIS) –
This week's general audience was held on the 50th anniversary of the
Vatican Council II Declaration “Nostra Aetate” on the relations
between the Catholic Church and non-Christian religions. It was
attended by representatives of various religions and participants in
the International Congress organised to commemorate the event by the
Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue in collaboration with
the Commission for Religious Relationships with Jews, the Pontifical
Council for Promoting Christian Unity and the Pontifical Gregorian
University.

Before beginning his catechesis in St.
Peter's Square the Pope greeted the sick and elderly who, due to the
weather conditions, were unable to attend the open air audience.
Francis also mentioned them in the square and asked for a minute of
silence and prayer for them all.

The audience began with greetings from
Cardinals Jean-Louis Tauran, president of the Pontifical Council for
Interreligious Dialogue, and Kurt Koch, president of the Pontifical
Council for Promoting Christian Unity. After the reading in several
languages of a paragraph of “Nostra Aetate”, the Pope welcomed
all those present and expressed his gratitude to them for
commemorating together the 50th anniversary of this important
conciliar document.

“Vatican Council II was an
extraordinary moment of reflection, dialogue and prayer to renew the
gaze of the Catholic Church upon herself and the world. A reading of
the signs of the times in order to bring her up to date, guided by a
dual fidelity: fidelity to the ecclesial tradition and fidelity to
the history of the men and women of our time. Indeed, God revealed
Himself in creation and in history, spoke through prophets and fully
in His Son made man, addressing the heart and soul of every human
being who seeks the truth and the way to practise it”.

Francis, reiterating that the message
of the Declaration “Nostra Aetate” remains valid today, recalled
some of its key points: the growing interdependence of peoples; the
human search for meaning in life, suffering and death, questions that
always accompany our journey; the common origin and common destiny of
humanity; the unity of the human family; religions as the search for
God or the Absolute, within the various ethnic groups and cultures;
the Church's benevolent and careful view of all religions, which does
not reject anything good or true in them; the Church's esteem for all
believers of all religions, appreciating their spiritual and moral
commitment; and finally, the Church's openness to dialogue with all,
while remaining at the same time faithful to the truth in which she
believes, starting from the salvation offered to all that has its
origin in Jesus, the sole saviour, and that is worked by the Holy
Spirit, as the source of peace and love”.

The Pope also noted that over the last
fifty years there have been many initiatives and examples of
institutional or personal relations with non-Christian religions. The
most significant among them include the meeting in Assisi on 27
October 1986, promoted by St. John Paul II. He also praised the great
transformation that has taken place in this period in the
relationship between Christians and Jews. “Indifference and
opposition have turned into cooperation and benevolence”, he
remarked. “From enemies and strangers, we have become friends and
brothers. The Council, with the Declaration 'Nostra Aetate', showed
the way: 'yes' to the rediscovery of the Jewish roots of
Christianity; 'no' to any form of anti-Semitism and condemnation of
any resulting injustice, discrimination and persecution. Mutual
knowledge, respect and esteem constitute the way that, valid for
relations with Jews, is similarly relevant to relations with other
religions. I think in particular of Muslims who, as the Council
states, 'adore the one God, living and subsisting in Himself,
merciful and all-powerful, the Creator of Heaven and earth, Who has
spoken to men'. They refer to the paternity of Abraham, they venerate
Jesus as a prophet, they honour His virgin Mother Mary, they await
the day of judgement, and practise prayer, charity and fasting”.

“The dialogue we need cannot be other
than open and respectful, and in this way it is shown to be fruitful.
Mutual respect is the condition and the aim of interreligious
dialogue; respecting the rights of others to life, physical integrity
and fundamental freedoms: that is, freedom of conscience, thought,
expression and religion. The world looks to us as believers, and
exhorts us to collaborate among ourselves and with men and women of
good will who do not profess any religion, and asks us for effective
answers on several issues: peace, hunger, the poverty that afflicts
millions of people, the environmental crisis, violence, especially
that committed in the name of religion, corruption, moral
degradation, the crisis of the family, the economy and finance, and
above all, hope. We believers do not have solutions for these
problems, but we have a great resource: prayer. We must pray. Prayer
is our treasury, which we draw from according to our respective
traditions, to ask for the gifts humanity yearns for”.

He acknowledged that violence and
terrorism have given rise to “an attitude of suspicion and indeed
condemnation with regard to religions. In reality, since no religion
is immune to the risk of fundamentalist or extremist deviations by
individuals or groups, it is necessary to look instead to the
positive values they embody and promote, and which are a wellspring
of hope. ... Dialogue based on trustful respect can bring seeds of
goodness that in turn become the buds of friendship and collaboration
in many fields, and especially in service to the poor, the smallest
and the elderly, and welcoming migrants and the excluded”. He also
remarked on the role of religions in defending the environment, a
common good.

The upcoming extraordinary Jubilee of
Mercy will offer an opportunity for collaboration in charitable
works. “And in this field, where compassion is most important, we
can join with many people who do not consider themselves to be
believers or who are in search of God and truth, people who place the
face of others at the centre, especially their brothers and sisters
in need. But the mercy that is required of us embraces all creation,
that God entrusted to us as its custodians rather than exploiters or
destroyers. We must always seek to leave behind a better world than
the one we found”.

The Pope concluded by urging all those
present to pray for the future of interreligious dialogue, “and to
pray for each other, as we are brothers! Without the Lord, nothing is
possible; with Him, everything is possible. May our prayer fully
adhere to the will of God, Who wants all men to acknowledge each
other as brothers and to live as such, forming a great human family
in the harmony of diversity”.

Following the greetings in different
languages, the Pope invited all to pray to the Lord, each following
his or her own tradition, that He might make us brothers together and
servants to our brothers in need.

Vatican City, 28 October 2015 (VIS) –
Following today's general audience the Holy Father launched an appeal
for the populations of Pakistan and Afghanistan, afflicted by a major
earthquake that has claimed many victims and caused devastating
material damage. “Let us pray for the deceased, their families, and
for all the injured and homeless, imploring consolation in suffering
and courage in adversity. May there be no lack of concrete solidarity
for these, our brothers”.

Vatican City, 28 October 2015 (VIS) –
Pope Francis has instituted the Foundation Gravissimum Educationis by
a chirograph bearing today's date. In the text, the Holy Father
expresses his gratitude to the Congregation for Catholic Education
for the initiatives organised to commemorate the fiftieth year since
the declaration “Gravissimum educationis” on Christian education,
promulgated the the Vatican Ecumenical Council II on 28 October 1965.

“I am likewise pleased to learn that
the same Dicastery wishes to constitute on this occasion a Foundation
entitled Gravissimum Educationis, with the aim of pursuing
“scientific and cultural ends, intended to promote Catholic
education in the world”, he adds. “The Church recognises the
'extreme importance of education in the life of man and how its
influence ever grows in the social progress of this age', are
profoundly linked to the fulfilment of 'the mandate she has received
from her divine founder of proclaiming the mystery of salvation to
all men and of restoring all things in Christ'”, he writes, quoting
the conciliar Declaration.

The Pope goes on to institute as public
canonical and civil juridical persons the Foundation Gravissimum
Educationis, whose premises will be located in Vatican City and which
will be subject to current canon law, current civil law in Vatican
City, and its statutes.

Vatican City, 28 October 2015 (VIS) –
At 12.30 this afternoon in the Holy See Press Office a conference was
held with the representatives of the different religions present at
this morning's interreligious general audience and those attending
the International Congress to commemorate the fiftieth anniversary of
the conciliar Declaration “Nostra Aetate”, held from 26 to 28
October at the Pontifical Gregorian University.

Tuesday, October 27, 2015

Vatican City, 27 October 2015 (VIS) –
The Holy Father has written a letter to Cardinal Secretary of State
Pietro Parolin regarding various issues that have arisen during the
process of reforming the structures of the Roman Curia. The following
is the full text of the letter:

“While the process of reform of
various structures of the Roman Curia, to which the Council of
Cardinals I instituted on 28 September 2013 is dedicating its
attention, is continuing in accordance with the established
programme, it is necessary to note that certain problems have emerged
in the meantime, in relation to which I intend to take prompt action.

I wish first to state that the current
period of transition is not a time of vacatio legis. Therefore, I
confirm that the Apostolic Constitution “Pastor bonus” and
subsequent amendments thereto remain in full force, along with the
General Regulations of the Roman Curia.

Since compliance with the common rules
is necessary both to guarantee the orderly conduct of work in the
Roman Curia and in the institutions connected to the Holy See, and to
ensure equitable treatment of employees and collaborators, also in
economic terms, I order that the provisions in the aforementioned
documents, as well as in the Regulations for lay staff of the Holy
See and Vatican City State and the Regulations of the independent
Commission for the evaluation of the recruitment of lay staff in the
Apostolic See, be scrupulously observed.

Accordingly, all staff hiring and
transfers must be carried out within the limits established by
staffing plans, excluding any other criterion, with the nulla osta of
the Secretariat of State and in compliance with the prescribed
procedures, including reference to the established parameters for
remuneration.

The above, to the extent compatible
with their Regulations, is valid also for the Governorate of Vatican
City State and the dependent Institutions of the Apostolic See,
although not expressly indicated in the Apostolic Constitution Pastor
bonus, with the exception of the Institute for the Works of Religion.

I therefore request, Your Eminence,
that the provisions I have mentioned be brought to the attention of
all the Superiors of the Dicasteries, the Offices and Bodies of the
Roman Curia, as well as the Commissions, Committees and connected
Institutions, as well as the Governorate, highlighting in particular
the aspects requiring special attention, and that supervision of
compliance be exercised.

I thank you for your collaboration and,
in communion of intentions and prayer, I cordially greet you in the
Lord”.

Vatican City, 27 October 2015 (VIS) –
Cardinal Secretary of State Pietro Parolin today sent a telegram on
behalf of the Holy Father to Archbishop Ghaleb Bader, apostolic
nuncio in Pakistan, following the serious earthquake in Afghanistan
and Pakistan.

“His Holiness Pope Francis was deeply
saddened to learn of the tragic loss of life in Afghanistan and
Pakistan as a result of the earthquake in the region. He expresses
his heartfelt solidarity with all those affected by this disaster,
and he offers the assurance of his prayers for the dead, as well as
for the injured and those still missing. Upon all those who mourn the
loss of loved ones and upon the civil authorities and emergency
personnel involved in the relief efforts, Pope Francis invokes the
divine blessings of consolation and strength”.

Vatican City, 27 October 2015 (VIS) –
Pope Francis has sent a message to the cardinal archbishop of
Florence, Giuseppe Bettori, Grand Chancellor of the On the occasion
of the Sophia University Institute, Loppiano, Italy, following the
conferral of a doctorate honoris causa in “Culture of Unity” to
His Holiness Bartholomew I, Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople.

The Holy Father greets those present,
expresses his closeness, and offers a special thought for his beloved
brother Bartholomew, to whom, he writes, “I renew my sentiments of
profound esteem and heartfelt appreciation, rejoicing in the present
initiative which, as well as constituting heartfelt recognition for
his commitment to the promotion of the culture of unity, contributes
favourably to the common journey our Churches take towards full and
visible unity, to which we aspire with dedication and perseverance”.

“In the hope that the Sophia
University Institute, following the charism of the Focolari Movement
and open to the action of the Spirit, may continue to be a place of
encounter and dialogue between different cultures and religions, I
assure my prayerful remembrance and, asking for your prayers, I
impart my Blessing to all present”, the Pope concludes.

Vatican City, 27 October 2015 (VIS) –
This morning in the Holy See Press Office a press conference was held
to present the 51st International Eucharistic Congress, to take place
in Cebu, Philippines from 24 to 31 January 2016 on the theme “Christ
in you, our Hope of glory; the Eucharist, source and goal of
mission”. The speakers were Archbishop Jose S. Palma of Cebu,
Philippines, Archbishop Piero Marini, Italy, president of the
Committee for the International Eucharistic Congresses, and Fr.
Vittore Boccardi, S.S.S., member of the same committee.

Archbishop Palma commented on the
importance of the choice of Asia and the Philippines to host the
Congress. “In recent years, Asia is the continent that has become
one of the great engines of world growth in the economic and social
point of view”, he said. “From the religious point of view,
however, it is still a contingent that has to be evangelised; …
where the Catholic Church is a small minority; in spite of being the
continent where Jesus was born, lived, died and rose again. The 51st
Eucharistic Congress, therefore, could become the mirror of the Asian
Church in the sense that it will see how the Catholic Church carries
out its task of evangelisation. As with the previous Congresses,
representatives of the different Churches and a myriad of pilgrims
from all over the world will be attending”.

The Congress, he continued, is expected
to be attended by “around 20 cardinals, 50 bishops from other
countries and at least 100 Filipino bishops who gather for the
Catholic Bishops Conference Plenary Assembly in January 2016. As of
October 2015, we already have 8,345 registered pilgrims representing
57 nations”. In addition, said Archbishop Palma, so far there are
600 registered host families ready to welcome pilgrims.

The events of the Congress will be
divided into two main parts: the first, the “Theological
Symposium”, will take place from 20 to 22 January, and the
“Congress Proper”, from 24 to 31 January. The basic themes for
reflection during the Theological Symposium are: “The Christian
Virtue of Hope”; “Eucharist in the Gospel of St. John”;
“Liturgy and Inculturation”; “The History of the Novus Ordo”;
“Evangelising the Secular World” and “A Catechism on the Sunday
Eucharist”. During the Congress Proper, the themes will be “Christ
our Hope of Glory”; “Christian Hope”; “The Eucharist as
Celebration of the Paschal Mystery”; “The Eucharist as Mission”;
“Mission as Dialogue”; “The Eucharist and Dialogue with
Cultures”; “The Eucharist and Dialogue with the Poor”; “The
Eucharist and Dialogue with other Religions” and “The Eucharist
and Mary”.

Archbishop Marini, with reference to
the theme of the Congress, affirmed that “the evangelical
announcement and faith in the Lord Jesus professed by the Christian
community are important and necessary for Asia, but must be presented
in accordance with the methods of dialogue, methods that have
distinguished the activity of the particular Churches of the
continent in the last thirty years. It is precisely this programme of
dialogue with cultures, religious traditions and the multitudes of
the poor that forms, in an entirely natural and evident way, the
fabric of pastoral reflections contained in the basic text. The text
explains that the Eucharist is the source and culmination of the
mission of the Church and identifies the added value offered by the
Eucharistic celebration for a mission that is committed to leavening
through the enzymes of dialogue, reconciliation, peace and future, of
which Asia is in great need”.

“The Eucharistic Congresses, then,
will go to Cebu to recall that the mission is an exchange of gifts
between those who announce and who receive the evangelical message”,
he added. “They go to the city that is the cradle of Christianity
in the East to give and to receive, to evangelise and to be
evangelised, to speak but also to listen. In that human environment
that is not linked to the labyrinth of rationalism, the celebration
of the Eucharistic mystery is bound with the experience of poverty,
suffering and affections and continues to build communities that wish
to break bread in the Kingdom of God”.

Finally, Fr. Boccardi commented that
the event in Cebu, along with the World Youth Days, World Family Day,
and so on, will become “an extraordinary resource for bearing
witness, through its celebration, to how the Eucharist is not only
the source of life in the Church but also the place of its projection
in the world. Every particular Church that celebrates the Eucharist
in any part of the world, is called upon to demonstrate the maturity
of giving to others, of mutual listening, of availability and
concrete collaboration so that the community of faithful might become
the house of God and of our brothers amid the homes of mankind. There
it will be possible to live that 'dialogue of life” that is a
starting point for the joyful witness of the Gospel”.

- Bishop Matteo Maria Zuppi, auxiliary
of Rome, as metropolitan archbishop of Bologna (area 3,549,
population 998,600, Catholics 951,462, priests 590, permanent deacons
127, religious 1,115), Italy. He succeeds Cardinal Carlo Caffarra,
whose resignation from the pastoral care of the same archdiocese upon
reaching the age limit was accepted by the Holy Father.

- Msgr. Corrado Lorefice as
metropolitan archbishop of Palermo (area 1,366, population 916,000,
Catholics 909,000, priests 479, permanent deacons 41, religious
1,249), Italy. The bishop-elect was born in Ispica, Italy in 1962 and
was ordained a priest in 1987. He holds a licentiate in moral
theology and a doctorate in moral theology, and has served in a
number of pastoral roles in the diocese of Noto, Italy, including
bursar and vice rector of the seminary, lecturer in moral theology,
director of the diocesan and regional centres for vocations, director
of formation of permanent deacons, director of the diocesan
catechistic office, parish administrator, and episcopal vicar for the
clergy. He is currently parish priest and vicar forane, episcopal
vicar for pastoral ministry, and lecturer in the “San Paolo”
theological faculty of Catania. He succeeds Cardinal Paolo Romeo,
whose resignation from the pastoral care of the same archdiocese upon
reaching the age limit was accepted by the Holy Father.

- Msgr. Giacomo Morandi, vicar general
of the archdiocese of Modena-Nonantola, Italy, as under-secretary of
the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith.

Monday, October 26, 2015

Vatican City, 24 October 2015 (VIS) –
The final General Congregation of the 14 th Ordinary General Assembly
of the Synod of Bishops concluded today with an address from Pope
Francis. The Holy Father spoke about how these three weeks of intense
work have had different meanings for families, the Christian
community and the Church, and reiterated that “the true defenders
of doctrine are not those who uphold its letter, but its spirit; not
ideas but people; not formulae but the gratuitousness of God’s love
and forgiveness”.

The following are extensive extracts
from the Pope's address:

“As I followed the labours of the
Synod, I asked myself: What will it mean for the Church to conclude
this Synod devoted to the family?

Certainly, the Synod was not about
settling all the issues having to do with the family, but rather
attempting to see them in the light of the Gospel and the Church’s
tradition and two-thousand-year history, bringing the joy of hope
without falling into a facile repetition of what is obvious or has
already been said.

Surely it was not about finding
exhaustive solutions for all the difficulties and uncertainties which
challenge and threaten the family, but rather about seeing these
difficulties and uncertainties in the light of the Faith, carefully
studying them and confronting them fearlessly, without burying our
heads in the sand.

It was about urging everyone to
appreciate the importance of the institution of the family and of
marriage between a man and a woman, based on unity and
indissolubility, and valuing it as the fundamental basis of society
and human life.

It was about listening to and making
heard the voices of the families and the Church’s pastors, who came
to Rome bearing on their shoulders the burdens and the hopes, the
riches and the challenges of families throughout the world.

It was about showing the vitality of
the Catholic Church, which is not afraid to stir dulled consciences
or to soil her hands with lively and frank discussions about the
family.

It was about trying to view and
interpret realities, today’s realities, through God’s eyes, so as
to kindle the flame of faith and enlighten people’s hearts in times
marked by discouragement, social, economic and moral crisis, and
growing pessimism.

It was about bearing witness to
everyone that, for the Church, the Gospel continues to be a vital
source of eternal newness, against all those who would “indoctrinate”
it in dead stones to be hurled at others.

It was also about laying bare the
closed hearts which frequently hide even behind the Church’s
teachings or good intentions, in order to sit in the chair of Moses
and judge, sometimes with superiority and superficiality, difficult
cases and wounded families.

It was about making clear that the
Church is a Church of the poor in spirit and of sinners seeking
forgiveness, not simply of the righteous and the holy, but rather of
those who are righteous and holy precisely when they feel themselves
poor sinners.

It was about trying to open up broader
horizons, rising above conspiracy theories and blinkered viewpoints,
so as to defend and spread the freedom of the children of God, and to
transmit the beauty of Christian Newness, at times encrusted in a
language which is archaic or simply incomprehensible.

In the course of this Synod, the
different opinions which were freely expressed – and at times,
unfortunately, not in entirely well-meaning ways – certainly led to
a rich and lively dialogue; they offered a vivid image of a Church
which does not simply 'rubber stamp', but draws from the sources of
her faith living waters to refresh parched hearts.

And – apart from dogmatic questions
clearly defined by the Church’s Magisterium – we have also seen
that what seems normal for a bishop on one continent, is considered
strange and almost scandalous – almost! – for a bishop from
another; what is considered a violation of a right in one society is
an evident and inviolable rule in another; what for some is freedom
of conscience is for others simply confusion. Cultures are in fact
quite diverse, and every general principle – as I said, dogmatic
questions clearly defined by the Church’s Magisterium – every
general principle needs to be inculturated, if it is to be respected
and applied. The 1985 Synod, which celebrated the twentieth
anniversary of the conclusion of the Second Vatican Council, spoke of
inculturation as 'the intimate transformation of authentic cultural
values through their integration in Christianity, and the taking root
of Christianity in the various human cultures'. Inculturation does
not weaken true values, but demonstrates their true strength and
authenticity, since they adapt without changing; indeed they quietly
and gradually transform the different cultures.

We have seen, also by the richness of
our diversity, that the same challenge is ever before us: that of
proclaiming the Gospel to the men and women of today, and defending
the family from all ideological and individualistic assaults.

And without ever falling into the
danger of relativism or of demonising others, we sought to embrace,
fully and courageously, the goodness and mercy of God who transcends
our every human reckoning and desires only that 'all be saved'. In
this way we wished to experience this Synod in the context of the
Extraordinary Year of Mercy which the Church is called to celebrated.

Dear Brothers and Sisters, the Synod
experience also made us better realise that the true defenders of
doctrine are not those who uphold its letter, but its spirit; not
ideas but people; not formulae but the gratuitousness of God’s love
and forgiveness. This is in no way to detract from the importance of
formulae – they are necessary – or from the importance of laws
and divine commandments, but rather to exalt the greatness of the
true God, Who does not treat us according to our merits or even
according to our works but solely according to the boundless
generosity of His Mercy. It does have to do with overcoming the
recurring temptations of the elder brother and the jealous labourers.
Indeed, it means upholding all the more the laws and commandments
which were made for man and not vice versa.

In this sense, the necessary human
repentance, works and efforts take on a deeper meaning, not as the
price of that salvation freely won for us by Christ on the cross, but
as a response to the One who loved us first and saved us at the cost
of his innocent blood, while we were still sinners.

The Church’s first duty is not to
hand down condemnations or anathemas, but to proclaim God’s mercy,
to call to conversion, and to lead all men and women to salvation in
the Lord.

Blessed Paul VI expressed this
eloquently: 'We can imagine, then, that each of our sins, our
attempts to turn our back on God, kindles in Him a more intense flame
of love, a desire to bring us back to Himself and to His saving plan…
God, in Christ, shows Himself to be infinitely good. God is good.
Not only in Himself; God is – let us say it with tears – good for
us. He loves us, He seeks us out, He thinks of us, He knows us, He
touches our hearts and He waits for us. He will be – so to say –
delighted on the day when we return and say: ‘Lord, in your
goodness, forgive me. Thus our repentance becomes God’s joy”.

St. John Paul II also stated that: 'the
Church lives an authentic life when she professes and proclaims mercy
... and when she brings people close to the sources of the Saviour’s
mercy, of which she is the trustee and dispenser'.

Benedict XVI, too, said: 'Mercy is
indeed the central nucleus of the Gospel message; it is the very name
of God … May all that the Church says and does manifest the mercy
God feels for mankind. When the Church has to recall an unrecognised
truth, or a betrayed good, she always does so impelled by merciful
love, so that men may have life and have it abundantly'.

In light of all this, and thanks to
this time of grace which the Church has experienced in discussing the
family, we feel mutually enriched. Many of us have felt the working
of the Holy Spirit Who is the real protagonist and guide of the
Synod. For all of us, the word 'family' does have the same sound as
it did before the Synod, so much so that the word itself already
contains the richness of the family’s vocation and the significance
of the labours of the Synod.

In effect, for the Church to conclude
the Synod means to return to our true 'journeying together' in
bringing to every part of the world, to every diocese, to every
community and every situation, the light of the Gospel, the embrace
of the Church and the support of God’s mercy. Thank you”.

Vatican City, 24 October 2015 (VIS) –
The Synod Fathers approved by 177 votes out of 265, a two-thirds
majority, the final Relatio of the 14th Ordinary General Assembly of
the Synod on the Family, made up of 94 paragraphs, each one of which
was voted on individually. The director of the Holy See Press Office,
Fr. Federico Lombardi, S.J., gave a briefing on the document, which
was authorised for publication in Italian by Pope Francis.

Fr. Lombardi remarked that the text
takes into account the many difficulties faced by the family, but
also its great capacity for facing and reacting to them. The
conclusive document of the Synod includes many of the amendments to
the Instrumentum Laboris presented by the Synod Fathers and therefore
reflects the voice of the Assembly.

With reference to the two paragraphs
dedicated to complex family situations, which were approved by a very
slender majority of 178 and 180 votes, Fr. Lombardi noted that they
regard the pastoral approach to wounded families or those that are
irregular from a canonical point of view and in terms of the
discipline of the Church: in particular, cohabitation, civil
marriage, divorced and remarried persons and the way of pastorally
addressing these situations.

Fr. Lombardi underlined that the tone
of the document is positive and welcoming, and that it has greatly
enriched the Instrumentum Laboris. Similarly, the Pope's Motu Proprio
on the reform of marriage annulment procedures made an effective and
decisive contribution to the theme of the Synod.

The final Relatio reaffirms the
doctrine of the indissolubility of sacramental marriage, which is not
a yoke but rather a gift from God, a truth based in Christ and in His
relationship with the Church. At the same time, it underlines that
truth and mercy converge in Christ, which leads to welcome to wounded
families. Without expressly mentioning access to the Eucharist for
remarried divorcees, the Synod document recalls that they are not
excommunicated and refers the analysis of complex family situations
to the discernment of pastors. This discernment, the text underlines,
must be applied in accordance with the teaching of the Church, with
trust in God's mercy that is denied to no-one. With regard to
cohabiting couples, the text reiterates that this situation should be
faced constructively, seeking to transform it into an opportunity for
a path to conversion towards the fullness of marriage and family, in
the light of the Gospel.

Other salient points of the document
refer to homosexuality. There must be no discrimination against
people with homosexual tendencies, but at the same time the text
states that the Church is contrary to same-sex unions and external
pressure on the Church in relation to this matter is not accepted.
There are special paragraphs dedicated to immigrants, refugees and
persecuted families who are often divided and whose members can
become victims of trafficking. A welcoming approach was invoked for
them too, recalling their rights and also their duties in their host
countries.

There are specific paragraphs on women,
men and children, the mainstays of family life: the text emphasises
the need for the protection and the recognition of the value of their
respective roles. It is hoped that a more prominent role will be
identified for women in the formation of ordained ministers, while in
relation to children mention was made of the beauty of adoption and
fostering, practices which reconstruct ruptured family bonds. The
Synod does not forget widows and widowers, the disabled, the elderly
and grandparents, who enable the transmission of faith in the family
and must be protected from the throwaway culture. Unmarried people
must also be acknowledged for their commitment to the Church and
society.

Among the “shadows” that are
frequently cast on the family, the Synod notes the presence of
political and religious fanaticism hostile to Christianity, growing
individualism, gender ideology, conflicts, persecution, poverty,
precarious employment, corruption, economic difficulties that can
exclude families from education and culture, the globalisation of
indifference in which humanity's place at the centre of society is
usurped by money, pornography, and the declining birth rate.

The Relation therefore gathers together
suggestions for strengthening preparation for marriage, especially
for the young who appear intimidated by it. They are in need, says
the Synod, of an adequate emotional formation, following the virtues
of chastity and self-giving. In this regard, mention was made of the
bond between the sexual act and procreation between spouses, of which
children are the most precious fruit, since they bear the memory and
hope of an act of love. Another bond is that between the vocation of
the family and the vocation to consecrated life. Education in
sexuality and corporeality and the promotion of responsible parenting
would also be central, in accordance with the teachings of Paul VI's
encyclical “Humanae Vitae” and the primary role of parents in the
education of their children in faith.

An appeal is launched to institutions
to promote an support policies in favour of the family, and Catholics
engaged in politics are exhorted to protect the family and life, as a
society that neglects them loses its openness to the future. In this
respect, the Synod reaffirms the sacredness of life from conception
to natural death, and warns against the grave threats posed to the
family by abortion and euthanasia. Further paragraphs are dedicated
to mixed marriages, whose positive aspects in relation to ecumenical
and interreligious dialogue are underlined, while confirming the need
to protect religious freedom and the right to conscientious objection
in society.

The text includes extensive reflection
on the need to modify the language of the Church, making it more
meaningful so that the proclamation of the Gospel of the family may
truly respond to the deepest human aspirations. This means not only
presenting a series of regulations but rather announcing the grace
that gives the capacity to live well the good of the family.

Finally, the Relatio emphasises the
beauty of the family: as a domestic church based on marriage between
a man and a woman, the fundamental cell of the society whose growth
it contributes, a safe entry to the deepest sentiments, the sole
point of connection in a fragmented age, and an integral part of
human ecology, it must be protected, supported and encouraged, also
by the authorities.

The document concludes by a plea to the
Synod Fathers by the Pope, regarding the possibility of producing a
document on the family. As Fr. Lombardi explains, “The Synod
Fathers do not say that all is complete, but affirm that they offer
the Relatio to the Holy Father to enable him to evaluate whether to
continue on this route with a document, on the basis of the Synod
text, to further examine the theme of the family from the perspective
he wishes to offer. 'We continue on our path'”.

Vatican City, 24 October 2015 (VIS) –
This Sunday the Pope celebrated Mass for the conclusion of the 14th
Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops. In his homily, he
reflects on the day's three readings that show us the compassion and
paternity of God, revealed in Jesus.

“In the midst of a national disaster,
the people deported by their enemies, the prophet Jeremiah proclaims
that 'the Lord has saved His people, the remnant of Israel'. Why did
He save them? Because He is their Father; and as a Father, He takes
care of His children and accompanies them on the way, sustaining 'the
blind and the lame, the women with child and those in labour'. His
fatherhood opens up for them a path forward, a way of consolation
after so many tears and great sadness. If the people remain faithful,
if they persevere in their search for God even in a foreign land, God
will change their captivity into freedom, their solitude into
communion: what the people sow today in tears, they will reap
tomorrow in joy.

“We too have expressed, with the
Psalm, the joy which is the fruit of the Lord’s salvation: 'our
mouth was filled with laughter, and our tongues with shouts of joy'.
A believer is someone who has experienced God’s salvific action in
his life. We pastors have experienced what it means to sow with
difficulty, at times in tears, and to rejoice for the grace of a
harvest which is beyond our strength and capacity. The passage from
the Letter to the Hebrews shows us Jesus’ compassion. He also 'is
beset with weakness', so that He can feel compassion for those in
ignorance and error. Jesus is the great high priest, holy and
innocent, but also the high priest Who has taken on our weakness and
been tempted like us in all things, save sin. For this reason He is
the mediator of the new and definitive covenant which brings us
salvation.

“Today’s Gospel is directly linked
to the First Reading: as the people of Israel were freed thanks to
God’s fatherhood, so too Bartimaeus is freed thanks to Jesus’
compassion. Jesus has just left Jericho. Even though He has only
begun His most important journey, which will take Him to Jerusalem,
He still stops to respond to Bartimaeus’ cry. Jesus is moved by his
request and becomes involved in his situation. He is not content to
offer him alms, but rather wants to personally encounter him. He does
not give him any instruction or response, but asks him: 'What do you
want me to do for you?'. It might seem a senseless question: what
could a blind man wish for if not his sight? Yet, with this question
made face to face, direct but respectful, Jesus shows that He wants
to hear our needs. He wants to talk with each of us about our lives,
our real situations, so that nothing is kept from Him. After
Bartimaeus’ healing, the Lord tells him: 'Your faith has made you
well'. It is beautiful to see how Christ admires Bartimaeus’ faith,
how He has confidence in him. He believes in us, more than we believe
in ourselves.

“There is an interesting detail.
Jesus asks His disciples to go and call Bartimaeus. They address the
blind man with two expressions, which only Jesus uses in the rest of
the Gospel. First they say to him: 'Take heart!', meaning 'have
faith, strong courage!'. Indeed, only an encounter with Jesus gives a
person the strength to face the most difficult situations. The second
expression is 'Rise!', as Jesus said to so many of the sick, whom He
took by the hand and healed. His disciples do nothing other than
repeat Jesus’ encouraging and liberating words, leading him
directly to Jesus, without lecturing him. Jesus’ disciples are
called to this, even today, especially today: to bring people into
contact with the compassionate Mercy that saves. When humanity’s
cry, like Bartimaeus’, becomes stronger still, there is no other
response than to make Jesus’ words our own and, above all, imitate
His heart. Moments of suffering and conflict are for God occasions of
mercy. Today is a time of mercy.

“There are, however, some temptations
for those who follow Jesus. … None of the disciples stopped, as
Jesus did. They continued to walk, going on as if nothing were
happening. If Bartimaeus was blind, they were deaf: his problem was
not their problem. This can be a danger for us: in the face of
constant problems, it is better to move on, instead of letting
ourselves be bothered. In this way, just like the disciples, we are
with Jesus but we do not think like Him. … We are able to speak
about Him and work for Him, but we live far from His heart, which is
reaching out to those who are wounded. This is the temptation: a
'spirituality of illusion'”.

“There is a second temptation, that
of falling into a 'scheduled faith'. We are able to walk with the
People of God, but we already have our schedule for the journey,
where everything is listed: we know where to go and how long it will
take; everyone must respect our rhythm and every problem is a bother.
... Jesus, on the other hand, wants to include, above all those kept
on the fringes who are crying out to Him. They, like Bartimaeus, have
faith, because awareness of the need for salvation is the best way of
encountering Jesus”.

“Dear Synod Fathers, we have walked
together”, he concluded. “Thank you for the path we have shared
with our eyes fixed on Jesus and our brothers and sisters, in the
search for the paths which the Gospel indicates for our times so that
we can proclaim the mystery of family love. Let us follow the path
that the Lord desires. Let us ask Him to turn to us with His healing
and saving gaze, which knows how to radiate light, as it recalls the
splendour which illuminates it. Never allowing ourselves to be
tarnished by pessimism or sin, let us seek and look upon the glory of
God, which shines forth in men and women who are fully alive”.

Vatican City, 26 October 2015 (VIS) –
Following the Holy Mass for the conclusion of the Ordinary General
Assembly of the Synod of Bishops, celebrated in St. Peter's Basilica,
Pope Francis appeared at the window of his study to pray the Angelus
with the faithful and pilgrims gathered in St. Peter's Square. Before
the Marian prayer, the Pope invited those present to “give thanks
to God for these three weeks of intense work, inspired by prayer and
by a spirit of authentic communion. It has been arduous but it was a
true gift from God, which will surely bear many fruits”. He
explained that “the word 'Synod' means 'to walk together' and
reflected on the Synod experience, also mentioning the continuing
refugee crisis.

“This Word of God tells us that the
first Who wishes to walk together with us, to have a 'synod' with us
is … our Father. His 'dream' is, and has always been, to form a
people, to bring them together, leading them toward the land of
freedom and peace. And this people is made up of families, the
'mothers and those with child'; it is a people that, as it proceeds,
perpetrates life, with God's blessing. … I confess to you that I
compare this prophecy of the journeying people with the images of
refugees on the streets of Europe, a dramatic situation in our days.
God too says to them, 'They departed in tears, but I will console
them and guide them; I will lead them to brooks of water'. Even those
families who suffer the most, who have been uprooted from their
lands, were present with us in the Synod, in our prayers and in our
work, through the voices of some of their pastors present in the
Assembly. These people in search of dignity, these families looking
for peace are still with us. The Church does not abandon them,
because they belong to the people that God wants to free from slavery
and lead to freedom”.

After praying the Angelus, Pope Francis
greeted pilgrims from several countries, especially the Brotherhood
of the Lord of Miracles of Rome, “who with great devotion have
brought the image venerated in Lima, Peru”, the musical pilgrims of
the “Musikverein Manhartsberg” from the Austrian diocese of
Vienna and the Orchestra of Landwehr, Fribourg, Switzerland, who had
performed in a concert for charity the previous day.

Vatican City, 26 October 2015 (VIS) –
Yesterday afternoon the Holy Father made a private visit to Cardinal
Roger Etchegaray, who was admitted to the Agostino Gemelli Hospital
following a fall at the end of the celebration in the Vatican
Basilica, causing a fracture of the left femur. His overall condition
is good, but he will need to undergo an operation to repair the
fracture.

The Pope spoke cordially with the
cardinal for around a quarter of an hour, and gave him his blessing.
Cardinal Etchegaray thanked Pope Francis, especially for the Synod
which has just come to a close.

Vatican City, 26 October 2015 (VIS) –
This morning Pope Francis received in audience the members of the
Synod of the Chaldean Church, led by His Beatitude Patriarch Raphael
I Louis Sako, to whom he expressed his solidarity will all the
inhabitants of Iraq and Syria, asking that God's mercy heal the
wounds of a war that has afflicted the hearts of communities, so that
“no one may feel discouragement in this time when the outcry of
violence seems to drown out our heartfelt prayers for peace”.

The bishop of Rome remarked that the
current situation in their lands of origin “is gravely compromised
by the fanatical hatred sown by terrorism, which continues to cause a
great haemorrhage of faithful who leave the lands of their fathers,
where they grew up firmly rooted in the furrow of tradition. This
state of affairs clearly undermines the vital Christian presence in
that land which witnessed the beginning of the journey of the
Patriarch Abraham, heard the voice of the Prophets who called Israel
to hope during the Exile, and saw the foundation of the first
Churches upon the blood of many martyrs. There too Christians bore
witness to the fullness of the Gospel, made their specific
contribution to the growth of society over centuries of peaceful
coexistence with our Islamic brothers and sisters. Sadly, these are
times which are instead marked by countless examples of persecution,
and even martyrdom”.

“The Chaldean Church, which suffers
from the war, is also conscious of the needs of the faithful in the
diaspora, who are desirous to maintaining their solid roots while
becoming part of new situations. So I confirm, today more than ever,
the complete support and solidarity of the Apostolic See in favour of
the common good of the entire Chaldean Church. I pray that Christians
will not be forced to abandon Iraq and the Middle East – I think
especially of the sons and daughters of your Church, and their rich
traditions. I urge you to work tirelessly as builders of unity in all
the provinces of Iraq, fostering dialogue and cooperation among all
those engaged in public life, and contributing to healing existing
divisions while preventing new ones from arising”.

The visit of the Synod of the Chaldean
Church offers the opportunity, said the Pope “to renew my heartfelt
appeal to the international community to adopt every useful strategy
aimed at bringing peace to countries terribly devastated by hatred,
so that the life-giving breeze of love will once more be felt in
places which have always been a crossroads for peoples, cultures and
nations. May the peace for which we all hope arise on the horizon of
history, so that the grievous tragedies caused by violence may yield
to a climate of mutual coexistence”.

“The Synod which you are celebrating
these days in Urbe, is a 'journeying together', a favourable moment
of exchange amid the diversities which enrich your fraternal
communion under the gaze of Christ, the Good Shepherd … who is
concerned for the salvation of his sheep, and is especially concerned
for those who have strayed. May you imitate him: zealous in seeking
the salus animarum of priests as well as laity, realising full well
that the exercise of communion sometimes demands a genuine kenosis, a
self-basement and self-spoliation”.

“In doing so”, he concluded, “you
will bridge distances and discern the response to be given to the
pressing needs of the Chaldean Church today, in your native lands and
in the diaspora. In this way the reflections which emerge from your
discussions will be able to provide fruitful solutions to your
current needs and points of convergence for resolving liturgical and
more general issues”.

Vatican City, 26 October 2015 (VIS) -
“You have come from different countries to reflect together on some
of the current challenges of international humanitarian law, relating
to the protection of human dignity during non-international armed
conflicts and the so-called 'new' armed conflicts. This is,
unfortunately, a theme of great current relevance, especially if we
think of the intensification of violence and the multiplication of
theatres of war in various areas around the world, such as Africa,
Europe and the Middle East”, said the Pope today as he received in
audience the participants in the fourth training course in
international humanitarian law for military chaplains, organised by
the Congregation for Bishops, the Pontifical Council “Justice and
Peace” and the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue.

Francis highlighted that war ruptures
relationships between brothers and nations. “It also disfigures
those who are witnesses to such atrocities. Many soldiers return
after military action or from peacemaking missions with very real
inner wounds. War can leave an indelible mark on them. Indeed, war
always leaves an indelible mark”.

“It is therefore necessary to ask
what the best ways are to cure the spiritual wounds of servicemen
who, having experienced war, have witnessed atrocious crimes. These
people and their families require a specific form of pastoral
attention, a care that enables them to feel the maternal closeness of
the Church. The role of the military chaplain is that of accompanying
them and supporting them on their journey, always offering a
consoling and fraternal presence”.

“International humanitarian law seeks
to safeguard the essential principles of humanity in the context of
war, which is in itself dehumanising. It aims to protect those who do
not participate in the conflict, such as the civil population or
healthcare and religious workers, and those who no longer participate
actively, such as the wounded and prisoners. … In order to fulfil
its aim of humanising the effects of armed conflict, humanitarian law
deserves to be better known and promoted among all soldiers and armed
forces, including non-state forces, such as security personnel and
police. In addition, it needs to be developed further so as to face
the new realities of war which today, unfortunately, involve the use
of increasingly deadly weapons”.

“However, as Christians we remain
profoundly convinced that the final aim, worthy of humanity and of
the human community, is the abolition of war. Therefore, we must
always make efforts to build bridges that unite rather than walls
that separate; we must always help to look for a glimmer of hope for
mediation and reconciliation. … In this period, in which we are
living a piecemeal third world war, you are called upon to nurture in
soldiers and their families the spiritual and ethical dimension so
that it may help them face the difficulties and often devastating
questions inherent in the special service they carry out for their
homeland and for humanity”.

Vatican City, 26 October 2015 (VIS) –
This morning, in the Vatican's Paul VI Hall, Pope Francis received in
audience the participants in the World Pilgrimage of Gypsy People,
which gathered together Roma, Sinti and other itinerant peoples,
organised by the Pontifical Council for the Pastoral Care of Migrants
and Itinerant Peoples in collaboration with the “Migrantes”
Foundation of the Italian Episcopal Conference and the “Migrantes”
Office of the diocese of Rome and the Sant'Egidio Community. This
year marks the fiftieth anniversary of Blessed Paul VI's visit to the
nomad camp of Pomezia, Italy, on 26 September 1965.

Francis mentioned the great changes
that have taken place in the Gypsy community since that historic
visit, both in the field of evangelisation and in that of human,
social and cultural development. “A strong sign of faith and
spiritual growth in your ethnic groups is the increasing number of
vocations to priestly life, the diaconate and consecrated life”, he
said. He described the latter as “a bridge between two cultures”
and remarked that they are therefore “called upon always to be
witnesses of evangelical transparency to favour the birth, growth and
nurturing of new vocations. You must know how to be companions not
only on a spiritual journey, but also in everyday life, with its
hardships, joys and worries”.

He acknowledged the difficulties faced
by these peoples, and commented that he had seen the precarious
conditions in which they live during his pastoral visits, emphasising
that this situation is in contrast with the right of every person to
a dignified life, dignified work, education and healthcare. “I
would like to see the beginning of a new history for your people. The
time has come to eradicate the deep-rooted prejudices, preconceptions
and mutual distrust that are often at the basis of discrimination,
racism and xenophobia. No-one should feel isolated, and no-one should
be authorised to trample the dignity and rights of others. … Let us
therefore allow the Gospel to awaken our consciences and to open our
hearts and hands to the neediest and most marginalised, starting from
those closest to us”.

Francis encouraged them to be the first
to make efforts to construct more human peripheries and to build
bonds of fraternity and exchange. “You can do this if you are,
first and foremost, good Christians, avoiding all that which is
unworthy of the name: falseness, fraud, cheating and quarrels”, and
encouraged them to follow the example of blessed Ceferino Gimenez
Malla. The Pope urged them not to give the media or public opinion
the opportunity to speak badly of them. “You are the agents of your
own present and future. Like all citizens, you can contribute to the
well-being and the progress of society by respecting the law,
fulfilling your duties and integrating also through the emancipation
of the new generations”.

With regard to children and the young,
“your most valuable treasure”, he stated that “education is
without doubt the foundation for the healthy development of the
person. It is well known that the limited scholastic level of many of
your young people currently represents the main obstacle to access to
the world of work. Your children have the right to go to school: do
not prevent them from doing so!”. He also commented on the need for
effort on the part of civil institutions in “guaranteeing adequate
education for young gypsies, also offering families who live in the
most disadvantaged conditions the opportunity to benefit from
adequate integration in schools and in work”.

The Pope concluded by echoing the words
of Blessed Paul VI fifty years ago, when he affirmed that itinerant
populations were not at the margins of the Church, but rather, in
some respects, at her very heart.

Vatican City, 26 October 2015 (VIS) –
The Holy Father has sent a telegram of condolences to the Archbishop
of Bratislava and the president of the Episcopal Conference of
Slovakia, Stanislav Zvolensky, for the death last Saturday of
Cardinal Jan Chryzostom Korec, at the age of 91.

The Pope remembers with profound
emotion the archbishop emeritus of Nitra, a committed and generous
pastor who throughout his long episcopal ministry was a “fearless
witness of the Gospel and a tireless defender of the Christian faith
and the rights of the person”.

The cardinal, who was imprisoned for
several years and prevented from freely exercising his episcopal
mission, “did not let himself be intimidated, always giving a
luminous example of strength and trust in divine providence, as well
as faithfulness to the See of Peter”, Francis writes.

“I thank the Lord for having given
His Church this eminent priestly and episcopal figure, and raise
fervent prayers to God that He might welcome in His eternal joy,
after so much suffering, this good and faithful servant”. The Pope
concludes by offering his apostolic blessing to the archbishop, the
Slovakian episcopate, the presbytery, religious communities and all
the faithful of the diocese of Nitra, whom the cardinal loved and
served, as a sign of Christian faith and hope in the Resurrected
Lord.

Vatican City, 26 October 2015 (VIS) –
This morning in the Holy See Press Office a press conference was held
to present the Appeal by by Cardinals, Patriarchs and Bishops from
across the globe representing the continental groupings of national
episcopal conferences, to the negotiators of the COP 21 in Paris
(Conference of Parties), to be held from 30 November to 11 December
this year. The initiative was promoted by the Pontifical Council
“Justice and Peace”, inspired by the Holy Father's Encyclical
“Laudato si'”.

The speakers were Cardinal Oswald
Gracias, archbishop of Bombay, India, president of the FABC (Asia);
Cardinal Ruben Salazar Gomez, archbishop of Bogota, Colombia,
president of the CELAM (Latin America), Archbishop John Ribat of Port
Moresby, Papua New Guinea, president of the Federation of Episcopal
Conferences of Oceania (FCBCO) and Bishop Jean Kockerols of
Mechelen-Brussels, first vice-president of the Commission of the
Episcopates of the European Community (COMECE) and, as special envoy,
Professor Jean-Pascal van Ypersele de Strihou of the Catholic
University of Leuven, Belgium, former vice-president of the
Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC).

Before the beginning of the Conference,
the Appeal was signed by various representatives of the episcopate
from around the world, in the presence of Cardinal Peter Kodwo Appiah
Turkson, president of the Pontifical Council “Justice and Peace”,
and His Beatitude Cardinal Bechara Boutros Rai, O.M.M., Patriarch of
Antioch (Maronites) and president of CCPO (the Council of Catholic
Patriarchs of the East), Archbishop Gabriel Mbilingi, C.S.Sp., of
Lubango, Angola, president of the Symposium of Episcopal Conferences
of Africa and Madagascar (SECAM), Archbishop Richard William Smith of
Edmonton, Canada, former president of the Conference of Catholic
Bishops of Canada, Msgr. Duarte Nuno Queiroz de Barros de Cunha,
general secretary of the Council of Episcopal Conferences of Europe
and Msgr. Ronny E. Jenkins, general secretary of the United States
Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB), and Bernd Nilles, general
secretary of CIDSE (International Alliance of Catholic Development
Agencies).

The appeal is issued by Cardinals,
Patriarchs and Bishops from across the globe representing the
continental groupings of national episcopal conferences and it is
addressed to those negotiating the COP 21 in Paris, calling on them
to work toward the approval of a fair, legally binding and truly
transformational climate agreement.

“Representing the Catholic Church
from the five continents, we Cardinals, Patriarchs and Bishops have
come together to express, on our own behalf and on behalf of the
people for whom we care, the widely-held hope that a just and legally
binding climate agreement will emerge from the negotiations of the
COP 21 in Paris. We advance a ten-point policy proposal, drawing on
the concrete experience of people across the continents, and linking
climate change to social injustice and the social exclusion of the
poorest and most vulnerable of our citizens.

Climate Change: challenges and
opportunities

In his encyclical letter, Laudato si’,
addressed ‘to every person living on this planet’, Pope Francis
claims that ‘climate change represents one of the principal
challenges facing humanity today’. The climate is a common good,
belonging to all and meant for all. The natural environment is a
collective good, the patrimony of all humanity and the responsibility
of everyone.

Whether believers or not, we are agreed
today that the earth is essentially a shared inheritance, whose
fruits are meant to benefit everyone. For believers, this becomes a
question of fidelity to the Creator, since God created the world for
everyone. Hence every ecological approach needs to incorporate a
social perspective which takes into account the fundamental rights of
the poor and the underprivileged.

Damage to climate and environment has
enormous repercussions. The problem arising from the dramatic
acceleration of climatic change is global in its effects. It
challenges us to re- define our notions of growth and progress. It
poses a lifestyle question. It is imperative that we find a solution
that is consensual, because of the scale and global nature of the
climate’s impact, it invites a solidarity that is universal, a
solidarity that is ‘intergenerational’ and ‘intragenerational’.

The Pope defines our world as ‘our
common home’ and, in the exercise of our stewardship, we must keep
in mind the human and social degradation which is a consequence of a
damaged environment. We call for an integral ecological approach, we
call for social justice to be placed centre stage ‘so as to hear
both the cry of the earth and the cry of the poor’.

Sustainable development must include
the poor

While deploring the dramatic impact of
rapid climate change on sea levels, extreme weather events,
deteriorating ecosystems and the loss of biodiversity, the Church is
also witness to how climate change is affecting vulnerable
communities and peoples, greatly to their disadvantage. Pope Francis
draws our attention to the irreparable impact of unrestrained climate
change in many developing countries across the world. Moreover, in
his address to the United Nations the Pope said the misuse and
destruction of the environment are also accompanied by a relentless
process of exclusion.

Courageous leaders seeking enforceable
agreements

The building and maintenance of a
sustainable common home requires courageous and imaginative political
leadership. Legal frameworks are required which clearly establish
boundaries and ensure the protection of the ecosystem.

Reliable scientific evidence suggests
that accelerated climate change is the result of unrestrained human
activity, working to a particular model of progress and development,
and that excessive reliance on fossil fuels is primarily responsible.
The Pope and Catholic Bishops from five continents, sensitive to the
damage caused, appeal for a drastic reduction in the emission of
carbon dioxide and other toxic gases.

We join the Holy Father in pleading for
a major break-through in Paris, for a comprehensive and
transformational agreement supported by all based on principles of
solidarity, justice and participation. This agreement must put the
common good ahead of national interests. It is essential too that the
negotiations result in an enforceable agreement that protects our
common home and all its inhabitants.

We, Cardinals, Patriarchs and Bishops,
issue a general call and make ten specific policy proposals. We call
on COP 21 to forge an international agreement to limit a global
temperature increase to within those parameters currently suggested
from within the global scientific community to avoid catastrophic
climatic impacts, especially on the poorest and most vulnerable
communities. There is, we agree, a common but also differentiated
responsibility of all nations. Different countries have reached a
different stage on the development spectrum. The need to work
together in a common endeavour is imperative.

Our ten calls:

1. to keep in mind not only the
technical but particularly the ethical and moral dimensions of
climate change as indicated in Article 3 of the United Nations
Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).

2. to accept that climate and
atmosphere are global common goods that are belonging to all and
meant for all.

3. to adopt a fair, transformational
and legally binding global agreement based on our vision of the world
that recognises the need to live in harmony with nature, and to
guarantee the fulfilment of human rights for all, including those of
Indigenous Peoples, women, youth and workers.

4. to strongly limit a global
temperature increase and to set a goal for complete decarbonisation
by mid-century, in order to protect front-line communities suffering
from the impacts of climate change, such as those in the Pacific
Islands and in coastal regions.

- to ensure that the temperature
threshold is enshrined in a legally binding global agreement, with
ambitious mitigation commitments and actions from all countries
recognising their common but differentiated responsibilities and
respective capabilities (CBDRRC), based on equity principles,
historical responsibilities, and the right to sustainable
development.

- to secure that the emissions
reductions by governments are in line with the decarbonisation goal,
governments need to undertake periodic reviews of the pledges they
make and of the ambition they show. And to be successful these
reviews need also to be based on science and equity and shall be
mandatory.

5. to develop new models of development
and lifestyles that are climate compatible, address inequality and
bring people out of poverty. Central to this is to put an end to the
fossil fuel era, phasing out fossil fuel emissions, including
emissions from military, aviation and shipping, and providing
affordable, reliable and safe renewable energy access for all.

6. to ensure people’s access to water
and to land for climate resilient and sustainable food systems, which
give priority to people driven solutions rather than profits.

7. to ensure inclusion and
participation of the poorest, most vulnerable and impacted at all
levels of the decision-making process.

8. to ensure that the 2015 agreement
delivers an adaptation approach that adequately responds to the
immediate needs of the most vulnerable communities and builds on
local alternatives.

9. to recognise that adaptation needs
are contingent on the success of mitigation measures taken. Those
responsible for climate change have responsibilities to assist the
most vulnerable in adapting and managing loss and damage and to share
the necessary technology and knowhow.

10. to provide clear roadmaps on how
countries will meet the provision of predictable, consistent, and
additional finance commitments, ensuring a balanced financing of
mitigation actions and adaptation needs.

All this would call for serious
ecological awareness and education.

Prayer for the Earth

God of love, teach us to care for this
world our common home. Inspire government leaders as they gather in
Paris to listen to and heed the cry of the earth and the cry of the
poor; to be united in heart and mind in responding courageously; to
seek the common good and protect the beautiful earthly garden you
have created for us, for all our brothers and sisters, for all
generations to come. Amen”.

Bishop Signatories to this Declaration:

Cardinal Oswald Gracias, archbishop of
Bombay, India, president of FABC (Asia); Cardinal Peter Erdo,
archbishop of of Esztergom –Budapest, president of CCEE (Europe);
Cardinal Reinhard Marx, archbishop of Munich, Germany, president of
COMECE (Europe); Cardinal Ruben Salazar Gomez, archbishop of Bogota,
Colombia, president of CELAM (Latin America); Archbishop Gabriel
Mbilingi of Lubango, Angola, president of SECAM (Africa); Archbishop
Joseph Kurtz of Louisville, president of USCCB (United States of
America), Archbishop John Ribat of Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea,
president of FCBCO (Oceania), and Bishop David Douglas Crosby,
O.M.I., of Hamilton, Canada, president of CCCB-CECC (Canada).

The document was written in
collaboration with the Catholic networks CIDSE and Caritas
Internationalis, and with the sponsorship of the Pontifical Council
“Justice and Peace”.